Adapting Adapting FForeign High Cultureoreign High Cultureto the Nationalto the National

Akira Kurosawa’sAkira Kurosawa’s Version of Shakespeare (Version of Shakespeare (Throne of Throne of BloodBlood) )

Akira Kurosawa Akira Kurosawa (1910-(1910-1998)1998)

Most famous Japanese film Most famous Japanese film director outside Japan.director outside Japan.Oscar for Lifetime Oscar for Lifetime Achievement (1989).Achievement (1989).Two of his films, Two of his films, Seven Seven SamuraiSamurai and and RashomonRashomon, on , on the list of world’s best films of the list of world’s best films of all times.all times.Called by critics a “pictorial Called by critics a “pictorial Shakespeare.”Shakespeare.”Major Western filmmakers Major Western filmmakers admitted being influenced by admitted being influenced by him.him.Two film awards, a film school Two film awards, a film school and a film studio named after and a film studio named after himhim

Kurosawa and the WestKurosawa and the West Criticized in Japan for Criticized in Japan for accommodating Western accommodating Western taste, politics, and values.taste, politics, and values.

Collaborated with Western Collaborated with Western producers, companies, and producers, companies, and filmmakers (ex., French, filmmakers (ex., French, American, Soviet). American, Soviet).

Made several Made several “transpositions” of classical “transpositions” of classical Western literature to Western literature to Japanese setting, ex.: Japanese setting, ex.:

The Idiot The Idiot (Dostoevsky), (Dostoevsky), The The Lower DepthsLower Depths (Maxim (Maxim Gorky), Gorky), Throne of Blood Throne of Blood and and RanRan (Shakespeare). (Shakespeare).

Throne of Blood (1957)(1957)Based on Shakespeare’s Based on Shakespeare’s MacbethMacbeth but but transposed to a Japanese setting.transposed to a Japanese setting.

Starring: Toshiro Mifune.Starring: Toshiro Mifune.

Characters are given Japanese names.Characters are given Japanese names.

Changes in the plot.Changes in the plot.

Absence of Shakespeare’s text.Absence of Shakespeare’s text.

Japanese traditions and ethics.Japanese traditions and ethics.

A non-Western concept of history as a A non-Western concept of history as a cycle of infinitely repeating events.cycle of infinitely repeating events.

Lays an “emphasis upon predetermined Lays an “emphasis upon predetermined action and the crushing of human action and the crushing of human freedom beneath the laws of karma.” freedom beneath the laws of karma.” (Stephen Prince)(Stephen Prince)

Throne of Blood:Throne of Blood:Japan-ness of imageryJapan-ness of imagery

Facial expressionsFacial expressionsBody language of Body language of kabukikabuki

theatretheatre

Throne of Blood:Throne of Blood:NohNoh Theatre Masks Theatre Masks

Throne of Blood: Ukyo-e Throne of Blood: Ukyo-e printsprints